St. Bernard County Court Records
How To Find Court Records in St. Bernard County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in St. Bernard County may access publicly available case information through several official channels. StBernardParishRecords.us provides a directory of resources and publicly available information related to court records maintained by government agencies serving St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. Users may find information related to civil filings, criminal case histories, traffic matters, probate proceedings, family court actions, and judgment records, subject to applicable access restrictions and the completeness of available data.
Relevant record categories that may be accessible include:
- Civil court filings and judgments
- Criminal case dockets and disposition records
- Traffic and ordinance violation records
- Probate and succession records
- Family court orders and custody matters
- Small claims and eviction proceedings
Court records in St. Bernard Parish may be searched through the following five methods:
1. Clerk of Court Office The St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court maintains the official repository of court records for the parish. Members of the public may visit the clerk's office in person, provide a party name or case number, and request access to available case files. Staff can assist with locating records and explaining applicable fees for copies.
2. Courthouse Public Access Terminals Public access computer terminals are available at the courthouse for in-person case searches. These terminals allow users to search docket information without charge during regular business hours.
3. Online Court Search The Louisiana Supreme Court's Louisiana Case Search portal provides online access to certain case information statewide, including matters filed in St. Bernard Parish courts. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney.
4. State-Level Judicial Search Tools The Louisiana Judiciary maintains statewide tools for locating court information across parishes. These resources supplement local clerk searches and may reflect appellate-level proceedings.
5. Written or Mail Requests Members of the public may submit written requests to the Clerk of Court specifying the case number, party name, and type of record sought. Written requests should include the requester's contact information and any applicable fees for copies or certified documents.
St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court
8201 W. Judge Perez Drive
Chalmette, LA 70043
Phone: (504) 271-3434
St. Bernard Parish Clerk of Court
Are Court Records Public In St. Bernard County
Court records in St. Bernard Parish are public records under current Louisiana law. Louisiana's Public Records Law, La. R.S. § 44:1 et seq., establishes the right of the public to inspect and copy records maintained by government bodies, including court records held by the Clerk of Court. The Louisiana Constitution, Article XII, § 3, further affirms the public's right of access to public records.
Records that are public and accessible include:
- Case dockets and docket entries
- Party names and case numbers
- Hearing dates and court calendars
- Filed pleadings, motions, and orders
- Judgments, decrees, and final dispositions
- Sentencing entries and probation orders
Records that may be confidential, sealed, restricted, or redacted include:
- Juvenile delinquency and child in need of care records
- Adoption proceedings and related filings
- Mental health commitment records
- Sealed filings ordered by the court
- Expunged criminal records under La. C.Cr.P. art. 971
- Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers and financial account numbers
A distinction exists between courthouse inspection and online access. While members of the public may inspect most court records in person at the Clerk of Court's office, not all records are available through online portals. Sealed, expunged, or restricted records are withheld from both in-person and electronic access.
What Are Court Records in St. Bernard County?
Court records are the official documents, filings, and entries created and maintained by a court or its clerk in connection with judicial proceedings. In practical terms, a court record encompasses everything filed with or generated by the court from the initiation of a case through its final disposition and any subsequent appeal.
A docket entry is a chronological log of actions taken in a case, while a full case file contains the actual documents filed by parties and issued by the court. Civil court records arise from disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, while criminal court records document proceedings initiated by the state against an individual charged with a criminal offense. Filed pleadings are the initial and responsive documents submitted by parties, whereas final judgments represent the court's conclusive resolution of the matter.
Public filings are those available for inspection under applicable law, while sealed or restricted filings have been withheld from public access by court order or statute. Trial court records are maintained at the parish level by the Clerk of Court, while appellate records are maintained by the Louisiana Courts of Appeal and the Louisiana Supreme Court.
In St. Bernard Parish, the Clerk of Court is the official custodian of trial court records. The Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal maintains records for appeals arising from St. Bernard Parish. The Louisiana Supreme Court maintains records for matters reaching the highest state court.
Court records are created when a party files an initial pleading, petition, or charging document. The clerk assigns a case number, opens a file, and records each subsequent filing, hearing, and order as a docket entry. Records are updated continuously through disposition and, where applicable, through post-judgment proceedings and appeals.
What's Included in a St. Bernard County Court Record?
A court record in St. Bernard Parish may include a range of documents and data depending on the case type and applicable public-access rules. The following information commonly appears within a court record:
- Case number assigned by the Clerk of Court at filing
- Court name and division where the matter is pending or was resolved
- Filing date of the initial pleading or charging document
- Party names, including plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and intervenors
- Case type and status, such as civil, criminal, family, probate, or traffic, and whether the matter is open, closed, or on appeal
- Docket entries reflecting each action taken in the case
- Hearing dates, continuances, and scheduling orders
- Motions, complaints, petitions, answers, orders, judgments, notices, minute entries, decrees, and similar filings
- Outcome information such as dismissals, judgments, guilty pleas, convictions, sentencing entries, custody rulings, probate orders, or appellate decisions
- Administrative and financial information such as filing fees, assessed court costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly shown
Records that are excluded or restricted from public access include sealed filings, expunged matters, juvenile files, adoption records, protected personal data such as Social Security numbers and financial identifiers, and certain exhibits admitted under seal. The extent of available information varies by case type, the age of the record, and any court orders restricting access.
Types of Courts in St. Bernard County
St. Bernard Parish is served by the Louisiana state court system, which operates under a unified judicial structure established by the Louisiana Constitution and state statutes. The courts currently serving St. Bernard Parish include:
- 24th Judicial District Court — the court of general jurisdiction for St. Bernard Parish, handling felony criminal cases, civil matters, family law, probate, and successions. The Clerk of Court for the 24th JDC maintains the official record of all trial court proceedings.
- St. Bernard Parish Juvenile Court — handles delinquency, child in need of care, and related juvenile matters. Juvenile records are subject to heightened confidentiality protections.
- Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal — hears appeals from the 24th Judicial District Court. The Fourth Circuit maintains its own clerk's office and case records.
- Louisiana Supreme Court — the court of last resort for matters arising from St. Bernard Parish. The Louisiana Supreme Court maintains records for all matters accepted for review.
The 24th Judicial District Court hears criminal cases ranging from misdemeanors to felonies, civil disputes, domestic relations and family matters, successions and probate, and juvenile proceedings. Traffic matters and minor offenses may also be handled at the district court level. The Louisiana Judiciary provides a statewide overview of court structure and jurisdiction.
24th Judicial District Court
8201 W. Judge Perez Drive
Chalmette, LA 70043
Phone: (504) 278-4300
24th Judicial District Court
Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal
400 Royal Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
Phone: (504) 412-6000
Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal
How to Search St. Bernard County Court Records for Free?
Members of the public may search court records in St. Bernard Parish at no cost through several methods. In-person inspection of court records at the Clerk of Court's office is available without charge during regular business hours. Courthouse public access terminals allow users to search docket information and review case status without payment.
The Louisiana Case Search portal maintained by the Louisiana Supreme Court provides free online access to certain case information, including party names, case numbers, and docket entries for matters filed in St. Bernard Parish courts.
Costs are associated with obtaining copies of court documents. The following fee structure applies under current Louisiana law and clerk fee schedules:
| Service | Typical Fee |
|---|---|
| Standard copy per page | $1.00 per page |
| Certified copy | $5.00 per document plus copy fees |
| Exemplified copy | Additional certification fee applies |
| Research fee (clerk-assisted) | Varies by request |
Louisiana law under La. R.S. § 13:843 governs clerk fees for copies and certified documents in district courts. Members of the public who require only visual inspection of a record and do not need copies may do so without incurring fees.
How Long Does St. Bernard County Keep Court Records?
The retention of court records in St. Bernard Parish is governed by the Louisiana Supreme Court's judicial records retention schedules and applicable state law. Retention periods vary by case type and the nature of the record.
Under current Louisiana judicial retention policy:
- Felony criminal records are retained permanently, including docket books, minute entries, and judgment records.
- Misdemeanor and traffic records are subject to shorter retention periods, with docket books and minute entries retained for a minimum of ten years in many categories.
- Civil judgment records are retained permanently or for extended periods given their legal effect on property and financial matters.
- Probate and succession records are retained permanently due to their ongoing legal significance.
- Family court records, including custody and support orders, are retained for extended periods tied to the age of the youngest child or the duration of the order.
- Juvenile records are subject to separate retention and confidentiality rules under Louisiana law.
Paper files may be destroyed after imaging, microfilming, or transfer to archival storage, provided the record has been preserved in an approved format. Destruction of a physical file does not constitute expungement or sealing; the record remains accessible in its preserved form. Expungement under La. C.Cr.P. art. 971 is a separate legal process that removes a record from public access and directs its destruction or sealing by order of the court.
Older records may exist in paper files, microfilm, or county and state archives. The Louisiana State Archives maintains historical judicial records transferred from parish clerks. Members of the public seeking older records should contact the Clerk of Court to determine the format and location of the record sought.
How To Find a Court Docket in St. Bernard County
A court docket is the official chronological log of all actions taken in a case, maintained by the Clerk of Court. A docket differs from a full case file in that it records what happened and when, rather than containing the actual documents filed. The docket serves as the index and timeline of a case from filing through final disposition.
Dockets for cases filed in the 24th Judicial District Court may be accessed through the following methods:
- In-person at the Clerk of Court's office: Staff can retrieve docket information by case number or party name during regular business hours.
- Courthouse public access terminals: Available at the Clerk of Court's office for self-service docket searches without charge.
- Louisiana Case Search: The Louisiana Supreme Court's case search tool provides online docket access for many cases statewide, including those filed in St. Bernard Parish. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney name.
- Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal portal: Dockets for appellate matters are available through the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal clerk's office and online resources.
A court docket entry typically contains the date of the action, a description of the filing or event, the party or attorney who initiated the action, and any orders issued by the court. Dockets reflect hearing dates, continuances, motions filed, minute entries from proceedings, and status updates through final disposition.
A docket does not include the full text of filed documents, sealed entries, exhibits admitted under seal, confidential attachments, or restricted filings. Hearing rosters and daily court calendars may be separately available through the clerk's office or posted at the courthouse. The Louisiana Judiciary provides additional guidance on accessing court information across the state's judicial districts.